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{{refimprove|date=October 2009}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{short description|American businesswoman}}

{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = Elena Ford
| name = Elena Ford
|birth_name = Elena Anne Ford-Niarchos
| birth_name = Elena Anne Ford-Niarchos
|image =
| image = Elena Ford in office.jpg
|alt =
| alt = Elena Ford
|caption =
| caption = Elena Ford at the Houston Call Center
|birth_date = May 25, 1966 (age 49)|1966|df=y
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|May 25, 1966}}
|birth_place = [[New York City]]
| birth_place = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
⚫
| spouse = {{plainlist|
|spouse = Stanley Jozef Olender 1991-1996 (divorced)<Br>Joseph Daniel Rippolone 1996-2008 (divorced)
* {{marriage|Stanley Jozef Olender|1991|1996|end=divorced}}
⚫
|children = six
* {{marriage|Joseph Daniel Rippolone|1996|2008|end=divorced}}
⚫
|death_date =
* {{marriage|Mitchell Seldin|2022}}
⚫
|death_place =
⚫
|other_names = Elena Ford-Niarchos
⚫
|alma_mater = [[New York University]]{{When?|date=June 2015}}
⚫
|known_for =
|residence = [[Birmingham, MI]]
|occupation = [[Ford Motor Company]] Director of Global marketing
|nationality =
⚫
|networth =
}}
}}
'''Elena Ford''' (born '''Elena Anne Ford-Niarchos''' in 1966) is the daughter of [[Charlotte Ford]], an [[Beneficiary|heiress]] to the [[Ford Motor Company]] fortune, and the [[Greeks|Greek]] shipping tycoon [[Stavros Niarchos]]. She is a granddaughter of longtime Ford Motor Company president [[Henry Ford II]] and the great-great granddaughter of company founder [[Henry Ford]]. On March 1, 2013 Ford became a vice-president of the company, making her one of thirty-eight officers running the company.<ref name="fp">"Elana Ford is named VP of automaker", Detroit Free Press, February 15, 2012, page 12A</ref> Currently she is Director of [[Global marketing]] for the company as a whole. She is responsible for marketing, product management and sales support activities for Ford Motor Company around the world. She is the first female Ford family member to hold a significant position at Ford.<ref name="first-female">[[USA Today]], [http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/driveon/2013/02/15/elena-ford-vice-president-henry-ford/1923555/ Elena Ford is first woman Ford family member to hold a significant position at the automaker.] February 15, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.</ref>


⚫
| children =
==Early life and education==
| parents = [[Stavros Niarchos]]<br />Charlotte Ford
Elena Ford was born Elena Anne Ford-Niarchos in 1966, the daughter of [[Charlotte Ford]] and [[Stavros Niarchos]]. Her parents divorced and her mother married [[Edward Downe Jr.]], the founder and chairman of [[Downe Communications]] in 1986.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/01/style/charlotte-ford-wed-to-edward-downe-jr.html</ref> Her mother was previously married and divorced from [[J. Anthony Forstmann]].<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/01/style/charlotte-ford-wed-to-edward-downe-jr.html</ref>
| relations = [[Henry Ford II]] (grandfather)<br /> [[Philip Niarchos]] (half-brother)<br />[[Spyros Niarchos]] (half-brother)

⚫
| death_date =
She has a bachelor’s degree in business from [[New York University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/people/elena-a--ford.html|title=Elena A. Ford|work=ford.com|accessdate=20 June 2015}}</ref><ref>http://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/02/style/weddings-elena-ford-and-joseph-rippolone.html</ref>
⚫
| death_place =
⚫
| other_names = Elena Ford-Niarchos
⚫
| alma_mater = [[New York University]]
⚫
| known_for =
| occupation = Chief Customer Experience Officer, [[Ford Motor Company]]
⚫
| networth =
⚫
}}
'''Elena Anne Ford-Niarchos''' (born May 25, 1966) is an American businesswoman. She is the Chief [[customer experience|Customer Experience]] Officer at [[Ford Motor Company]] and the first woman in the Ford family to hold an executive position at the company.<ref name="first-female">[[USA Today]], [https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/driveon/2013/02/15/elena-ford-vice-president-henry-ford/1923555/ Elena Ford is first woman Ford family member to hold a significant position at the automaker.] February 15, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
Ford worked in advertising as a senior account executive at Wells, Rich Greene Advertising in [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/driveon/2013/02/15/elena-ford-vice-president-henry-ford/1923555/|title=Heiress Elena Ford is named a vice president of Ford|last=Press|first=Alissa Priddle, Detroit Free|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US|access-date=November 18, 2019}}</ref> In 1995, she joined Ford Motor Company as a marketing executive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-15/henry-ford-heir-named-to-top-customer-service-post-at-automaker|title=Henry Ford Heir Named to Top Customer Service Post at Automaker|publisher=Bloomberg Business|date=October 15, 2018|author=Keith Naughton}}</ref> She was later named the company's director of [[global marketing]] and was responsible for marketing, product management, and sales support activities. During this time, she marketed the company's development into mobility services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/henry-fords-great-great-granddaughters-vision-stress-driving/story?id=37903991|title=Henry Ford's Great-Great Granddaughter's Vision for No-Stress Driving and Car Ownership|author=Alyssa Newcomb|date=March 25, 2016|work=ABC News}}</ref>
⚫
On March 1, 2012, Ford took over a new global unit within the company, the Dealer and Consumer Experience group. She is responsible for standardizing the way dealerships interact with customers around the world and oversees global dealer strategy, planning, training and consumer experience.


⚫
In 2012, Elena was assigned to lead the global Dealer and Consumer Experience group. She was responsible for standardizing the way dealerships interact with customers around the world and oversaw global dealer strategy, planning, training and consumer experience.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/transport/422067-driven-to-succeed|title=Elena Ford: driven to succeed|website=ArabianBusiness.com|language=en|access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref>
As of March 1, 2013, Ford will be a vice-president of the company, making her one of thirty-eight officers running the company.<ref name="fp"/>


She is Director of [[global marketing]] for the company as a whole. She is responsible for marketing, product management and sales support activities for Ford Motor Company around the world. She is the first female Ford family member to hold a significant position Ford.<ref name="first-female"/> Ford will also establish standards and practices for China as Ford introduces the Lincoln brand in 2014.{{Cn|date=June 2015}}
In 2013, Elena became vice president, Customer Experience and Global Dealer, making her one of thirty-eight officers running the company and the first female Ford family member to hold an executive leadership position.<ref name="fp">"Elana Ford is named VP of automaker", Detroit Free Press, February 15, 2012, page 12A</ref>


In October 2018, Elena Ford was announced as the company's first Chief [[customer experience|Customer Experience]] Officer. In this role, she leads the organization in creating a world-class customer experience for all Ford customers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2018/10/15/elena-ford-family-motor-new-chief-customer-experience-officer/1648348002/|title=Ford heir to lead global push for better service|publisher=The Detroit News|date=October 15, 2018|author=Ian Thibodeau}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
In 1997, Ford was involved in a dispute with her half-siblings by her father's third wife, Eugenia Livanos. Stavros Niarchos stipulated in his will that no one has the right to touch his billions until 2009, and two [[Swiss]] court decisions have effectively bound the hands of the Niarchos heirs from any inheritance.{{Cn|date=June 2015}}


In 2019, she spearheaded the launch of a 500-person call center in Houston, Texas, providing support for Ford truck owners and dealers experiencing technical issues. She also launched Ford's “Own the Call” initiative.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2019/09/09/ford-opens-call-center-focused-truck-owners/2264671001/|title=Ford opens call center focused on truck owners|last=Thibodeau|first=Ian|website=Detroit News|language=en|access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref>
===Marriages===
In 1991, Ford-Niarchos (as she was then known) married Stanley Jozef Olender, the owner of Stanley O's, an estate maintenance service in [[Southampton (town), New York|Southampton, New York]]. In 1996, after one child together she divorced Olender and she married Joseph Daniel Rippolone, a plumber, mechanic, builder, and inventor. They have five children together. In 2008 Joseph Rippolone and Elena Ford divorced by mutual agreement. The divorce proceedings lasted a year.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402E3D61E39F931A35755C0A960958260 WEDDINGS;Elena Ford and Joseph Rippolone - New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><Ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2003/05/08/TampaBay/A_love_of_cars__the_f.shtml|title=TAMPA BAY: A love of cars, the family name shape a Ford|work=sptimes.com|accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref>


===Legal issues===
==Life==
[[File:Elena Ford 2019.jpg|thumb|alt=Elena Ford|right|Elena Ford at the Houston Call Center|250px]]
On April 4, 2011, Ford was charged with [[drunk driving]] and [[child endangerment]] because her son was in the vehicle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/05/ford-elena-idUSN0514996520110405|title=Ford heir Elena Ford arrested for drunk driving|work=Reuters|accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref> The incident occurred in the [[Detroit]] suburb of [[Ferndale, Michigan|Ferndale]], [[Michigan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2011/04/ferndale_police_report_on_elen.html|title=Ferndale Police report on Elena Ford: Heiress had trouble with ABCs|work=MLive.com|accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref> On April 21, 2011, she pleaded guilty to the charges, and was sentenced to two years probation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20110421/OEM02/110429948/elena-ford-pleads-guilty-in-dui-case-receives-probation|title=Elena Ford pleads guilty in DUI case, receives probation|work=Automotive News|accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/18471664/elena-ford-sentenced-for-driving-drunk-with-child-in-backseat|title=Elena Ford Sentenced For Driving Drunk with Child In Backseat|date=21 April 2011|work=myfoxdetroit.com|accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref>
Elena Anne Ford-Niarchos was born in [[New York City]] to Charlotte Ford and [[Greeks|Greek]] shipping magnate [[Stavros Niarchos]].<ref name="Notes on People">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/22/archives/niarchos-weds-tina-livanos-formerly-the-wife-of-onassis.html|title=Notes on People|date=October 22, 1971|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 21, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> After her parents divorced in 1967,<ref name="Notes on People"/> Elena's mother married [[J. Anthony Forstmann]] in 1973<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/02/archives/charlotte-ford-is-wed-to-j-a-forstmann-matron-of-honor-dinner-dance.html|title=Charlotte Ford Is Wed to J. A. Forstmann|work=The New York Times|date=May 2, 1973|author=Enid Nemy}}</ref> and later [[Edward Downe Jr.]], the founder and chairman of [[Downe Communications]] in 1986.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/01/style/charlotte-ford-wed-to-edward-downe-jr.html|title = Charlotte Ford Wed to Edward Downe Jr|newspaper = The New York Times|date = September 1986}}</ref>

Elena is the great-great-granddaughter of company founder [[Henry Ford]], and granddaughter of longtime Ford Motor Company president [[Henry Ford II]].<ref name=":0" /> Elena was close to her maternal grandfather, Henry Ford II, once referring to him as her best friend. Henry taught Elena to drive a stick shift in his [[Ford F-Series|F-100]] Ford pick-up truck insisting she learned to drive a manual and not an automatic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/motoring/peoples-ford-likes-focus-customers-4051932|title=Elena Ford - granddaughter of Henry Ford II is focused on customers|author=Maggie Barry|date=August 15, 2014|publisher=Daily Record}}</ref>

Ford received a bachelor's degree in business from [[New York University]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Elena Ford|publisher=The Detroit News|date=January 28, 2009|url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-detroit-news/20090128/281517927007326}}</ref> In 1991, she married Stanley Jozef Olender, the owner of Stanley O's, an estate maintenance service in [[Southampton, New York]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/06/style/elena-ford-niarchos-is-married-to-stanley-olender-in-southampton.html|title=Elena Ford-Niarchos Is Married To Stanley Olender in Southampton|work=The New York Times|date=October 6, 1991}}</ref> In 1996, she divorced Olender and married Joseph Daniel Rippolone.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402E3D61E39F931A35755C0A960958260 WEDDINGS;Elena Ford and Joseph Rippolone - New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 2008, Ford and Rippolone divorced by mutual agreement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2003/05/08/TampaBay/A_love_of_cars__the_f.shtml|title=TAMPA BAY: A love of cars, the family name shape a Ford|work=sptimes.com|access-date=June 19, 2015}}</ref> Elena Ford married Mitchell Seldin on July 30, 2022.


==See also==
==See also==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ford-executives-management-style-matches-strengths_us_5956b734e4b0326c0a8d1056 Ford Executive's Management Style Matches Strengths: 'You Can't Put All Like-Minded People Together']
* [http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=12330 Elena A. Ford]


{{Niarchos family}}
{{Niarchos family}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ford, Elena}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ford, Elena}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:American businesspeople]]
[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:Ford executives]]
[[Category:Ford executives]]
[[Category:Henry Ford family|Elena Ford]]
[[Category:Family of Henry Ford]]
[[Category:People from Wayne County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from New York City]]
[[Category:People from Birmingham, Michigan]]
[[Category:American people of Greek descent]]
[[Category:American people of Greek descent]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Niarchos family]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Niarchos family|Elena Ford]]

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
⚫
| NAME =Ford, Elena
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American businesswoman
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1966
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[New York City]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
⚫
}}

Latest revision as of 22:02, 16 August 2024

Elena Ford
Elena Ford
Elena Ford at the Houston Call Center
Born
Elena Anne Ford-Niarchos

May 25, 1966 (1966-05-25) (age 58)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Other namesElena Ford-Niarchos
Alma materNew York University
Occupation(s)Chief Customer Experience Officer, Ford Motor Company
Spouses
Stanley Jozef Olender
​
​
(m. 1991; div. 1996)​
Joseph Daniel Rippolone
​
​
(m. 1996; div. 2008)​
Mitchell Seldin
​
(m. 2022)​
Parent(s)Stavros Niarchos
Charlotte Ford
RelativesHenry Ford II (grandfather)
Philip Niarchos (half-brother)
Spyros Niarchos (half-brother)

Elena Anne Ford-Niarchos (born May 25, 1966) is an American businesswoman. She is the Chief Customer Experience Officer at Ford Motor Company and the first woman in the Ford family to hold an executive position at the company.[1]

Career

[edit]

Ford worked in advertising as a senior account executive at Wells, Rich Greene Advertising in New York City.[2] In 1995, she joined Ford Motor Company as a marketing executive.[3] She was later named the company's director of global marketing and was responsible for marketing, product management, and sales support activities. During this time, she marketed the company's development into mobility services.[4]

In 2012, Elena was assigned to lead the global Dealer and Consumer Experience group. She was responsible for standardizing the way dealerships interact with customers around the world and oversaw global dealer strategy, planning, training and consumer experience.[5]

In 2013, Elena became vice president, Customer Experience and Global Dealer, making her one of thirty-eight officers running the company and the first female Ford family member to hold an executive leadership position.[6]

In October 2018, Elena Ford was announced as the company's first Chief Customer Experience Officer. In this role, she leads the organization in creating a world-class customer experience for all Ford customers.[7]

In 2019, she spearheaded the launch of a 500-person call center in Houston, Texas, providing support for Ford truck owners and dealers experiencing technical issues. She also launched Ford's “Own the Call” initiative.[8]

Life

[edit]
Elena Ford
Elena Ford at the Houston Call Center

Elena Anne Ford-Niarchos was born in New York City to Charlotte Ford and Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos.[9] After her parents divorced in 1967,[9] Elena's mother married J. Anthony Forstmann in 1973[10] and later Edward Downe Jr., the founder and chairman of Downe Communications in 1986.[11]

Elena is the great-great-granddaughter of company founder Henry Ford, and granddaughter of longtime Ford Motor Company president Henry Ford II.[5] Elena was close to her maternal grandfather, Henry Ford II, once referring to him as her best friend. Henry taught Elena to drive a stick shift in his F-100 Ford pick-up truck insisting she learned to drive a manual and not an automatic.[12]

Ford received a bachelor's degree in business from New York University.[13] In 1991, she married Stanley Jozef Olender, the owner of Stanley O's, an estate maintenance service in Southampton, New York.[14] In 1996, she divorced Olender and married Joseph Daniel Rippolone.[15] In 2008, Ford and Rippolone divorced by mutual agreement.[16] Elena Ford married Mitchell Seldin on July 30, 2022.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ USA Today, Elena Ford is first woman Ford family member to hold a significant position at the automaker. February 15, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  2. ^ Press, Alissa Priddle, Detroit Free. "Heiress Elena Ford is named a vice president of Ford". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 18, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Keith Naughton (October 15, 2018). "Henry Ford Heir Named to Top Customer Service Post at Automaker". Bloomberg Business.
  4. ^ Alyssa Newcomb (March 25, 2016). "Henry Ford's Great-Great Granddaughter's Vision for No-Stress Driving and Car Ownership". ABC News.
  5. ^ a b "Elena Ford: driven to succeed". ArabianBusiness.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  6. ^ "Elana Ford is named VP of automaker", Detroit Free Press, February 15, 2012, page 12A
  7. ^ Ian Thibodeau (October 15, 2018). "Ford heir to lead global push for better service". The Detroit News.
  8. ^ Thibodeau, Ian. "Ford opens call center focused on truck owners". Detroit News. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Notes on People". The New York Times. October 22, 1971. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  10. ^ Enid Nemy (May 2, 1973). "Charlotte Ford Is Wed to J. A. Forstmann". The New York Times.
  11. ^ "Charlotte Ford Wed to Edward Downe Jr". The New York Times. September 1986.
  12. ^ Maggie Barry (August 15, 2014). "Elena Ford - granddaughter of Henry Ford II is focused on customers". Daily Record.
  13. ^ "Elena Ford". The Detroit News. January 28, 2009.
  14. ^ "Elena Ford-Niarchos Is Married To Stanley Olender in Southampton". The New York Times. October 6, 1991.
  15. ^ WEDDINGS;Elena Ford and Joseph Rippolone - New York Times
  16. ^ "TAMPA BAY: A love of cars, the family name shape a Ford". sptimes.com. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
[edit]
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